ArtPrize 2014: What’s Going On October 10

North Muskegon artist Eric Kravako converted an old school bus into a mobile studio and made it part of his ArtPrize 2014 entry titled "Okavark Necklace: The Fisherman" on exhibit at The B.O.B. in Grand Rapids. (Photo: John Eisenschenk)

ArtPrize's executive director, Christian Gaines, was drawn to Grand Rapids by the energy he found in the event.

"I came here because I saw something I'd never seen before," he said. "It's true. You can't throw a rock without hitting a film festival these days. ...

"That's what made this unique. ... You could do it at your own speed. Your could develop your own language and your own understanding. It was a new and exciting concept to me. The great thing about ArtPrize is you have 1,536 pieces of art ... and it's all built into the cityscape."

It's become something the entire community and region can embrace, Gaines said.

"Year one, everyone was trying to figure out what it was," he said. "Since year two, it's been about active participation (for community involvement). ... Everyone's now saying: 'How are you going to celebrate ArtPrize?'"

Today (Friday, Oct. 10) is the 17th day of ArtPrize's 19-day run, and the celebration continues through Sunday.

Today's Big Event

The votes are in for ArtPrize 2014, with $560,000 in prize money being handed out in ceremonies at 8 p.m. tonight at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre.

The winners of two grand prizes -- $200,000 for public voting and $200,000 for a juried choice -- are being announced along with two-dimensional, three-dimensional, time-based and installation category awards for both public and juried selections at $20,000 each.

There were 398,714 votes cast in two rounds of public voting, including 352,732 in the first round, according to ArtPrize's tabulation. Public voting ended one minute before midnight Thursday.

The first MAJIC concert of the 2014-2015 season features Deep Greens and Blues, a Grand Rapids alt country band performing, and an artists' reception for the 17 ArtPrize entries at Bethlehem Lutheran. The event is from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.